The Maleny Bowls Club and Maleny Lions Club held a "Festival of Colour" social bowls day to assist in raising funds for mobility equipment for disabled children.  This social day was held in conjunction with the Maleny Lions Festival of Colour weekend.

The afternoon started off warm and fine, however the sky did have some heavy looking clouds coming from the west.

The rinks were filled with both pennants bowlers and "new bowlers" as each team had to contain at least one "new bowler."  This did not reduce the amount of competition between teams as a number of teams, holding relatives were very serious in challenging each other.

(Photo above shows a section of the green prior to the afternoon surprise.)

At the usual afternoon tea break all was going to plan when there was a loud bang on the clubhouse roof.  One of the larrikin members was blamed for throwing some ice from the bar onto the roof.  A couple of minutes went by before another bang was heard and then the skies opened and down came hail many as large as golf balls.  Luckily they didn't relate in size to the game at hand.

(Photo above shows the green during an early part of the storm.)

One social member did the "right" thing rescuing some gear left out by other members when they came in for the afternoon tea and were caught unaware.

A younger member proudly supplies his own supply of ice for his drinks.
Ice was readily available from the great ice maker in the sky.

One could not be blammed for thinking that the day was a day of water sports.

It may have been wet and windy outside but inside the clubhouse the Bar.B. Q and socialising continued at a great pace allowing more raffles to be held - all in aid of a great cause.

Who said lawn bowls was not a great social sporting event.

Ah well - another day and it will be back to serious competition.